i'm just okay. >> he plays, barack obama, he plays them well, too. i hate to tell you. >> reporter: mitt romney practicing with ohio senator rob portman looks like he's been getting a workout. the president sparring with john kerry, even chose a key suburb in nevada, a battleground state, for his practice session. neither candidate is known as a great debater. aides say the president doesn't like to talk in sound bites, and can be patronizing. >> you're likeable enough, hillary. >> thank you. >> reporter: romney, say advisers, can come off as out of touch with average voters. >> rick, i'll tell you what, 10,000 bucks? $10,000 bet? >> reporter: in the 52 years since the debates were first televised the first rule is appearances count. nixon should have shaved. al bush shouldn't have sighed. and the camera never blinks. challengers can benefit just by being on the stage with an incumbent president. >> are you better off than you were four years ago? >> reporter: it helps to have a well rehearsed one-liner. >> governor, there you go again. >> reporter: